Businessman arraigned for failing to declare $299,000 collapses in court

A businessman, Sunday Okorie, collapsed in court on Wednesday while standing in the dock.

Okorie had been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday for allegedly failing to declare $299,000 and being in possession of counterfeit foreign currency.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu had ordered Okorie to be remanded after he pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. The judge then adjourned the trial to Wednesday.

When the case resumed on Wednesday, Okorie’s lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, told the court that his client wanted to change his plea to guilty.

Okoronkwo asked the court to allow the charge to be read to Okorie again.

The lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chineye Okezie, confirmed that Okorie had decided to plead guilty.

Okezie said, “In view of the defendant’s wish to change his plea from not guilty to guilty on counts one and two, the commission would like to withdraw counts three and four.”

Justice Dipeolu agreed and ordered counts three and four to be withdrawn. He then asked the court registrar to read counts one and two to the defendant.

As the registrar was about to read the charges, he asked Okorie if he understood English. Okorie did not respond. Seconds later, he collapsed in the dock.

His wife and daughter, who were in the courtroom, started crying.

Mrs. Okorie knelt and cried out, calling on Jesus.

The EFCC had arraigned Okorie on four counts related to money laundering and importing counterfeit currency.

The EFCC prosecutor, Chineye Okezie, told the court that Okorie hid the $299,000, the counterfeit $250, and €100 inside relaxer containers. He then tried to take them through the Nigerian Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

Okezie said Okorie committed the offence on March 19, 2025.

She explained that he illegally brought five pieces of counterfeit $50 notes, totalling $250, into Nigeria. The fake notes had serial numbers MB67951730 D, MB93612802 A, MB67957416 D, MB67957308 D, and MB121997428 C.

According to her, Okorie knew the money was fake but still had it in his possession.

She said the offences violated Sections 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Sections 3(1)(a), 5(1)(b), and (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.